Saturday, 25 May 2013

MaliQuest: Extract From Dr Loxley's Manual of Monsters - Shifters

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I remember the first time I ever saw a Shifter. It was a creature that looked part human, part beast, but unlike both the intelligence behind it's eyes was pure evil, with only blood lust on it's mind.

It was hunched over, with thick shaggy fur covering it's body, however despite this dishevelled appearance, it was still roughly six foot tall.

The creature's head appeared to be almost wolf like in appearance, but it was clearly humanoid, and based on this the rest of my party began to call it a Werewolf, but to do so was to detract from it's true being.

A Shifter is not a Werewolf, but a Werewolf is a Shifter. A human born of inhuman parentage with an ability to take on the characteristics of any beast in the wild, they often appear as many different types of animals; wolves, bears, sometimes even lizards or bats, but they all share the same weakness:

A silver bullet to the brain...

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Good morning everyone!

Today I bring you a sneaky peak of an extract from the Monster Manual, oh yes in deed, we will have Were-Creatures, but they will all be listed as 'Shifters' short of course for Shape Shifters.

You see, one thing that I want to do for the Manual of Monsters is move away from the strict names and definitions of beasties you find in Malifaux, but also add to the fluff and feel of living in New Fairbank.

An example of this will be found in the Nephilum, the 'correct' term for the first stage is of course, Terror Tots, but in New Fairbank they will be known as Imps. Of course you also have Mindless Zombies, these will be called Shamblers.

There are a couple of reasons behind this, the names themselves are standard monster tropes and by their almost generic use means that they will translate over to any independent work I may do.

The second reason, I see the people of a town who encounter monsters on a daily basis having their own words for these creatures. All types of Zombies will become Rots for example.

This might sound almost pointless, but if you look over history at any war, every time us humans always come up with 'nicknames' for the enemy, I see no reason why the same wouldn't happen here.

Anyway, I have a train to catch, stay safe and I'll see you breachside!